The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1887-06-09

fidelity to their king. The thicker the danger.
the more hravcly they fought. So should the
Christian soldier gather around the standard of
| the cross, never desert his place. but ever re-
main loyal to the great Captain Of his Salvation.
\ true soldier of Christ Is a hero, and there
are many such heroes who pass away from
earth almost unknown; yet faithful record Is
kept above.
Look at the long list of great warriors. Every
age has boastcd of her soldiers. History has
recorded the achievements of Alexander and
PyrrhuS, and Hannibal, and Scipo. and Caesar,
and many more. They were great, no doubt
but thousands of their private soldiers We're
heroes just as true, yet their names have not
been honorcd by the historian, and no marble
monuments perpctltatc their names.
The French lavish their praises upon their
great Napoleon, who dcthroned kings and set
up kings: who hunbled Spain, and Italy and
Prussia. and other powers, and compelled them
TO east their swords at his feet. Yet thousands
of brave men, who poured ont their blood for
the railsc of their leader, passed away un-
honorc,t and unknown.
Every Year as the 18th of June comes round.
the English still lavish their praises upon Wei
in%ton. who commanded their army at Water
loo: yet the 5000 men who. on that day. at the
word of their leader. laid down their lives, are
not spoken of.
SO with Christian soldiers. History has re-
corded the names of Il few. The great leaders
Of the church for eighteen centuries have been
spoken OF ana Ncntfatcu. i he ofITenS, the
Clements, the Tcrtuans, The Grc@ory>, the
tllrysostoms, the I.lthcrS. the WcslcyS. the
WhitelicldS, these and other such leaders pco-
pie remember. liut the thousands and scores
Of thousands of humber workers, who de-
y"tedly iaborcd in smaller sphere are uii-
known. Bat the record is kept ON high: and
the great leader who had ten talents and the
humble servant who had only one, but who
diligently improved that one, will at last re-
eve The commcndation of the Master Well
,lonr, thou good and faithful servant.
!! is '"n>i!crd the duty of soldiers who have
been longest in the >erNir to take their places
at the head of the army. and thus set a good cA-
ample for new recruits. For veteran 10 throw
on his arnior. or to step out of The ranks, is Il
disgrace. But what do we frequently see in the
army of Christian warriors. Some who were
once at the front have now gone to the rear.
Others have thrown their :rmor oil or allowed
il 10 be corroIc,l with rust. With such an cN-
ample. can we expect new recruits to come into
tir service:
Now. Christian soldiers. do We remember the
timc when we first enlisted: Was it Eot easy
then to stand II the front: Ought we to fight
les >aliau,, now than we did then: Has the
cause of our dear Lord and Master become irk-
some ana repusive: Have we become weary
uf the service: Are souls less precious in our
sight than they cnrc Were: Has our love to the
saviour grown cold. and Heaven less attric-
tive: Are we willing TO see the cause for which
Vlir Lord dr decline for our own Iack of effort
Then let rs all to-day grid on the a,nor again.
Let lis step S.uarcly 10 the front. Let lis stand
llrm and fast against the powers of the a,!Nrr-
-lrN. Then joy. ana triumph. and prosperity
W i'll .ol,ow a> the result of our hcin" in the path
of duty.